Life drawing

Nurture your passion for drawing the human figure.

Enjoy life drawing in a nurturing, supportive and creative studio environment. Our life drawing tutor has many years experience of teaching and supporting absolute-beginners as well as more experienced life drawers.

Choose one of the 3 life drawing opportunities below from peer-led groups, tutor-led classes for absolute-beginners, and a unique experiential 3 day weekend course.

Life drawing Ancoats

Monday eve peer group

Peer-led life, figure and portrait drawing and painting for everyone, with tutor-guidance available during Show+Share social time

Info + Booking

Begin Life Drawing

Monday eve tutor-led class

Tutor-led step-by-step life drawing class for absolute-beginners and those returning to life drawing

Info + Booking

Life drawing Foundations

Friday – Sunday 3-day course

A unique course teaching an innovative and creative approach to drawing that will form the foundation to all future life drawing

Info + Booking

Life drawing Marathon

July 2026 dates to be announced

The ultimate life drawing challenge. 100 drawings in 12 hours! A real short-pose extravaganza.
Full and half marathon options available

Info + Booking

Experienced teaching, support, guidance and encouragement

Drawing the human form is exciting and rewarding so our life drawing opportunities ensure you have the opportunity to build your creative confidence to be able to enjoy making well-observed self-expressive drawings of the human figure.

We understand the challenges of drawing the human form, so small groups of no more than 10 drawers ensures you are well supported, guided and nurtured with lots of 1:1 support to help you along your own personal life drawing journey.

We employ a variety of different professional life models, support and celebrate a body-positive attitude, equality, and diversity.

This is what our students have to say

“Lovely welcoming informal group. Nice studio space. So happy I found you and have a chance to do life drawing again!

Julia G
Life Drawing Ancoats

“This course has taken me through a process of unlearning and seeing differently. My course highlights were doing life drawing with a live model, exercises freeing me up and enjoying the process. It was not quite what I expected – but actually so much better. Thank you – I now feel so much more enabled”

Hazel B
Life drawing foundations

“Well worth attending. Techniques explained really well and felt at ease to ask questions. The comparative technique was most helpful. Was exactly what I needed as a novice to drawing.”

Craig A
Begin Life Drawing

“Lovely welcoming informal group. Nice studio space. So happy I found you and have a chance to do life drawing again!”

Julia G
Life Drawing Ancoats

Hazel B
Life drawing foundations

“Well worth attending. Techniques explained really well and felt at ease to ask questions. The comparative technique was most helpful. Was exactly what I needed as a novice to drawing.”

Craig A
Begin Life Drawing

Top Menu

What a very special place. Brian is a wonderful teacher supportive and inspirational. I've been going to the Wednesday drop in's for 18 months now and have just completed Art + Creativity: Drawing Skills course. Excellent and I have enrolled to do part two of that course which is Material Techniques next term. Can't recommend highly enough.

jackie lindsay

I thoroughly enjoyed the Begin to draw + paint course with Brian. The 2 day weekend course was challenging but nonetheless very enjoyable. He has a relaxed and amenable style whilst at the same time attentively looking after his students to ensure they get the most out of the course. There was a particular part of the course, drawing measuring techniques, which I felt I needed a little more help with. Brian very kindly invited me back to his studio in his own time to go through it again with me. Thanks Brian! Will see you soon!

David Thorpe

Had a very informative and enjoyable morning at the art class. I totally learnt new skills and got to try something different. Brian is a great teacher & I would definitely recommend this class.

F Andrew

The whole experience was fantastic, Brian is a natural teacher and I was surprised at what I achieved in the time and how much I learned. Already looking to book my next class 👏👏

Kathy Boylan

I had a great couple of days this weekend on the Begin to draw and paint course with Brian. I am a complete beginner who has never had any formal art education and having done the course I now feel confident to explore drawing and sketching further. Day one was based on the fundamental principles of drawing - learning techniques and tips for creating accurate sketches. Then day two let us explore lots of different media to use in our paintings from charcoal and pastels to acrylic and watercolour paint. I really enjoyed the supportive and collaborative approach in the sessions which were also good fun. Brian is very patient and had a great way of explaining all the concepts. I’d definitely recommend this course.

Jo Houghton

I can’t believe I learnt so much in just two days! Bryan is a natural teacher, very patient and encouraging. I’d highly recommend doing this course if you want to get to grips with drawing tricky buildings.

Maria Wilmslow

It's 50 years since I had an art lesson, and Bryan's beginner weekend was just what I needed to give me the confidence to pick up a pencil and paint brush and just have a go. Really enjoyable, learnt some basic techniques and had fun. Thank you.

Carol Platts

Beginners Creative Arts course was excellent. It was really great overview with instruction and practical application of techniques and media. I really appreciated Brian Raymond's patience and tutoring style.

Helen Benson

I took my grandaughter to hav a chat with brian he was really nice and helpfull but still carnt make up her mind. But great place to do art.

Bren Gil

Experimental drawing workshop - Really enjoyed experimenting with inks and charcoal under Brian's expert tuition. Loved the variety of excercises we covered. Brian is always there for questions, support and constructive feedback to develop techniques whilst allowing your individual creativity to flourish. Great way to explore your creativity!

Jane Doyle

3 Comments

Yvonne Carsley
15 November 2024 @ 10:34 am

I am interested in sitting for any art class: life, portrait or costume. 47 years old, I year’s experience. Examples of my sittings on Facebook and Instagram.

Reply
Kurt Ziverts
2 November 2024 @ 1:27 pm

I am looking to sit for life art classes. I am a 66 year old male model with over 20 years experience. For more details email me or text 07816 099 659

Reply
STEWART L D LAING
6 January 2024 @ 6:05 am

I’ll be 87 in April and have a collection of paintings in acrylic I’d like to exhibit. Were and how to do so? I live in Victoria Square.

Reply

Life drawing

Nurture your passion for drawing the human figure.

Life drawing Ancoats

Monday eve peer group

Begin Life Drawing

Monday eve tutor-led class

Life drawing Foundations

Friday – Sunday 3-day course

Life drawing Marathon

July 2026 dates to be announced

Experienced teaching, support, guidance and encouragement

This is what our students have to say

3 Comments

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